Life

The most ferocious fires seen in WA, four of them ranked level four bushfires, wiped out 60,000ha across WA with Denmark recording the heaviest losses with four houses.

Patricia Gill. Osborne Road residents Denise and William Legge stayed put on Saturday believing their farm was ‘in a reasonably defensible position’. This did not stop the couple from experiencing fire raging on all sides of their property that day but with the help of five heavy-duty fire brigade appliances their home and sheds were saved.

Happy Valley Road resident Anala Linckens described returning to the home she shares with partner Artha Holmes on Saturday as like entering Mordor ... Denmark-born and raised Ian Osborne thought he was in trouble on Saturday afternoon when the fire loomed above his property on Osborne Road.

A female shearer is encouraging young people to consider taking up the profession as the country continues to face a shortage spurred on by the pandemic ... While Ms Doll had never expected to spend her working life in a shearing shed, the 29-year-old now couldn’t imagine her life being any different.

Jeff Hanson. Josh Hanlon was once earmarked to play football at the highest level. The former Ganmain and Tullibigeal player, who at the time was playing with North Wagga in the Farrer League, had been recruited by the GWS Giants and was playing under 19s representative football, and surely looked on his way to a career in the AFL.

After 14 years as a rural journalist, Sophie Baldwin is aiming to transform her passion for rural communities to a potent political voice for the federal seat of Mallee. Ms Baldwin believes it is time for Mallee to have an independent voice.

Kirstin Nicholson. Two local cricket stalwarts have been honoured with a new annual shield. Bruce Milthorpe from Cohuna and George Keath from Leitchville have been recognised for the many years of dedication and work they have put into their local cricket clubs.

It’s time to turn that trash into treasure! NetWaste, Coonamble Shire Council and Outback Arts are collaborating once again to host the annual Waste 2 Art Competition and Exhibition.

Erin Mooney-Smith will serve your dog a puppiccino while you have a drink at the Commercial Hotel in Casino ... When publican Marnie Macdonald posted on Facebook that dogs on leads were welcome in the beer garden of the pub, someone asked about puppiccinos for the pooches.

For two years, Wayne Finch has been searching for a suitable site for a maritime museum in Kyogle. And he has found it ... Wayne's father, Frank Finch OAM, served at sea for 46 years and when he returned to Kyogle, his home became a homage to his love of life at sea.

Emma Pritchard. As Irene Armstrong gazes up into the leafy canopies of the trees outside her home, she estimates the population of the newest residents, who first appeared at the end of January, has grown to more than 40000 ... Their constant shrieking, feeding, habitat destruction, offensive odour and waste products are driving locals batty ... In NSW, flying foxes are protected ... The grey headed flying fox is also listed as vulnerable ...

All the fun of the fair at Koorawatha - competitions, Tug.A.War., horse events, cattle, sheep, prince/ princess competition, woodchopping, music, markets.

Regular passenger flights between Hobart and two Bass Strait Islands will be extended following the success of the Sharp Airline services that were introduced in September 2020 ... The services have been a roaring success, and have given more Tasmanians the ability to explore these unique parts of our special Island State.

Cape York may have been the latest location of a meteor air burst, a phenomenon that lit up the sky and caused an airborne aftershock that rattled buildings across the Peninsula. Residents in Weipa, on Cape York cattle stations and on the east coast at Portland Roads have all reported seeing the sky light up in a turquoise-like colour at 5.50am on Friday.

Every palliative patient in our region deserves dignified treatment and care whether in home or in hospital. Chair of Jodie’s Inspiration, Jesse Smith, in partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital (SVPH), has delivered an $11,000.00 Christmas gift to support in home palliative care services from Lotus Palliative Care across the Northern Rivers.

Attractions include the Eastend Bus Service Rodeo, free activities for children, Hot Air Balloon Rides on the Defence Force Balloon, Wood Chop, Beaut All Vehicle Show, Dog Show in Victoria Park, Young Farmers Challenge, Farm Livestock, Birds & Poultry, Horse Events, Pavilion Displays, Australian Wildlife Park Display, Side Show Alley, Live Entertainment including Step Up Dance Academy. Darsharni & Tayvin Martins, and the Moosic Man, the Mad Bucking Cow, Mid-Western Regional Council Mobile Library, and Captain Awesome.

Yanchep was one of five suburbs to record the biggest increase in median rent during January, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

Gabrielle Duykers. Millicent mediator Mark Braes has the “monumental task” of contesting the seat of MacKillop for SA Labor at the upcoming state election ... Across the electorate, he said his primary concerns centred around “health and health needs”.

Following on from the disappointment of cancelling last year’s show, Act-Belong-Commit Darkan Sheepfest is all set to navigate double vaccination entry requirements for events in regional Western Australia and is aiming for show success.

For the month of February, if you have an interest in hairdressing and are between the ages of 11 and 17, you have the chance to participate in a program provided by the Deadly Hair Dude in collaboration with Julalikari, who managed to win a grant from the Department of Health to bring the program to Tennant Creek as a part of the Alcohol and Other Drugs initiative.

Kelly and Dustin’s rental property in Castlemaine became unliveable after the floods last Friday ... Many other locals and businesses in Castlemaine experienced loss and damage due to the severe weather front last Friday and local council has been working closely with affected residents and local emergency service team to assist.

Last Saturday a large crowd gathered at the Shelbourne silos for the unveiling of a series of plaques, celebrating the history of the Shelbourne Railway Station. The plaques are part of Nuggetty Landcare Groups historical projects, including producing calendars and conducting railway walks from Nuggetty to the silos.